Unit Overview

At times in America's history there have been horrific examples of scientific research that inflicted great harm on people in the name of pursing knowledge "for the greater good." From allowing participants to abuse one another, to withholding lifesaving medical treatments, there are dark chapters in the story of scientific inquiry in which human dignity took a backseat to blind scientific ambition. 

Today we recognize that the injuries caused by unethical research conduct are damaging to individuals, communities, and relationships between researchers and the public. They are also preventable! By observing a few basic principles, we can make sure that people who agree to contribute their time, thoughts, or experiences to a study are protected from harm. 

Key Terms 

Distress Protocols: steps to take if a participant becomes upset while participating in research.

Informed Consent: process/documentation through which a researcher obtains the participant's consent to be a part of the study; the researcher must inform the participant of potential harms and benefits of the study.

Privacy: the right to control access to ourselves and our own personal information.

Research Ethics: guidelines on how research should be conducted that focus on protecting participants from harm.

Subject: any person included within a research study (i.e., an interviewee).

Ethical Research Practices

Research ethics are guidelines on how to responsibly conduct research. Ethical guidelines exist to protect research participants from harm. Conducting research ethically is key to building and maintaining trust between researchers and the community. 

CITI Training is a tool Grand Valley State University uses to teach students, faculty, and staff responsible research conduct. By the end of the training, participants should be able to: 

• Explain the key roles of a researcher. 

• Identify ways to protect subjects before, during, and after data collection.

• Identify the key challenges a researcher could encounter in meeting their responsibilities.

• Apply a range of strategies to respond and adapt to the ethical challenges one may face when conducting research.

To better understand informed consent, confidentiality, and research ethics, complete the CITI training module, "Social Behavioral Educational Researchers," through the GVSU Office of Sponsored Projects. The module includes lesson materials and quizzes to test your knowledge. 

Select "Begin CITI Training" below to get started. 

Summary

Researchers have many responsibilities as they plan their studies, collect and analyze data, and report their results. One set of obligations researchers have concerns the subjects included in the research. Subjects have a right to fully understand what the research will entail and acknowledge any risks associated with participation. Researchers must also work to protect the privacy of their subjects. 

When beginning a project, researchers should consider what they will do if a participant becomes distressed during the data collection process. Keep in mind factors that might cause distress, look for signs of distress, and prepare resources to offer if a participant becomes upset.

By following a few simple principles, researchers can preserve the human dignity of people included in their study and build or maintain a reputation of trust in the community. 

Reflection Questions

Researcher Roles?

Establishing Trust?

Challenges and Obstacles?